Frequently Asked Questions

Explaining brownfield and greenfield development opportunities is best done in a verbal environment due to the intricacies of each property. We have compiled several of the more frequently asked questions below to help broaden the familiarity with brownfield developments. If you have additional questions, please phone (757) 461-7441 or contact us via our online form.

Q: What is a Brownfield?

A: A brownfield is an unused or underused real property that has some level of chemical, radiological, or petroleum contamination. Brownfield parcels are generally older industrial sites centrally located to city centers, population centers and transportation hubs.

Q: What is a Greenfield?

A: A greenfield is virgin, uncontaminated land suitable for any use. Generally located in city outskirts, proximate to suburbia, farther from transportation links.

Q: What is the Brownfield Restoration & Land Renewal Act?

A: Virginia has been among the first of the states to enact progressive legislation encouraging the remediation and re-use of brownfields. The Brownfield Restoration and Land Renewal Act sets the guidelines and regulations for re-using brownfields. This Virginia act grants three protections from state laws to persons with an interest in a contaminated property, amnesty, limitation of liability and immunity. Brownfield Development Company is well versed in the Act and its ramifications.

Q: What is CERCLA?

A: Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), owners, lenders and purchasers of contaminated property could face civil penalties, costly involuntary cleanup efforts mandated and overseen by the DEQ or EPA and even criminal charges. Brownfield Development Company works with state and federal agencies and new legislation that allows acquisition of brownfields without assuming liability under CERCLA

Q: What is a the VRP?

A: A VRP is a Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) that addresses contaminated land.

Q: What is a the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2002?

A: This act provides support to state voluntary cleanup programs by enacting a “federal bar” to enforcement for properties that have completed a state program. This is just one of several vehicles Brownfield Development Company utilizes in assessing and redeveloping brownfield parcels.

Q: How does redevelopment help the environment?

A: Brownfield sites are already contaminated and potentially causing harm to the environment in some capacity. Brownfield redevelopment includes a strategic plan to clean up environmental hazards in accordance with Virginia DEQ guidelines. All cleanup efforts must be approved in full and are a critical part of any brownfield redevelopment project.

If a parcel is not redeveloped, it is likely the contaminants will remain and continue to pollute the environment.

 

Brownfield FAQs:

Brownfield sites are already contaminated and potentially causing harm to the environment in some capacity. Brownfield redevelopment includes a strategic plan to clean up environmental hazards in accordance with Virginia DEQ guidelines. All cleanup efforts must be approved in full and are a critical part of any brownfield redevelopment project.